Image display device in the form of a pair of eye glasses comprising micro reflectors

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image display device (1) comprises at least one spatial light modulator (2), at least one point light source (3), wherein the light source (3) is placed in front of the spatial light modulator (2). The display device is suitable for wearable Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D displays.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to an image display device and more particularly, to a wearable image display device in the form of a pair of eye glasses.BACKGROUND[0002]Wearable displays are an enabling technology for Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and 3D mobile displays. There are many wearable technologies that deliver a virtual image to the eye but they all require relay lenses between the display panel and the eye.[0003]In the design of wearable displays, it is desired to have a large field-of-view (FOV) and a large exit-pupil-size (12-15 mm) to allow for eye-motion without losing the image. In the state of the art embodiments, there are some examples of head-mounted displays in military HMD's and virtual reality goggles with large FOV (up to 80° or 120°), but the optics are very bulky. Alternative approaches to reduce the size and bulk of the optics have exploited different solutions: (i) Active pupil-tracking is a promising solution but the o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The aim of the present invention is the realization of an image display device which has a large field of view, extendable to 3D perception and enabling viewing comfort without being limited due to missing depth cues.

[0008](i) Eliminating the relay optics between the spatial light modulator and eye. The focusing problem of the eyes is overcome using the pinhole display principle, which provides infinite depth of focus. As a result, miniaturization of wearable displays will be possible by taking full advantage of the advancements in micro-technologies.

[0009](ii) Providing all the essential 3D depth cues to avoid perceptual errors and viewing discomfort. Two eyes need to fixate at the correct depth of the objects rather than the display panel without losing resolution, thereby eliminating the conflict between accommodation and convergence.

Problems solved by technology

There are many wearable technologies that deliver a virtual image to the eye but they all require relay lenses between the display panel and the eye.

In the state of the art embodiments, there are some examples of head-mounted displays in military HMD's and virtual reality goggles with large FOV (up to 80° or 120°), but the optics are very bulky.

Alternative approaches to reduce the size and bulk of the optics have exploited different solutions: (i) Active pupil-tracking is a promising solution but the optical mechanisms offered to track the pupil are quite complicated; (ii) Unconventional optical relays to make the optics more compact using light guides relays, holographic relays, or substrate guided relays, which are promising but still require a compromise in FOV to achieve the thin form-factor; (iii) Displays that require wearing a special contact lens.

Viewing the display requires a special contact lens with a high-diopter center lens and polarized filters: and (iv) Displays placed directly on contact lens, which would have limited resolution due to limited space.

Furthermore, light emitted from individual emitters are not coherent and cannot be used to write an image on the retina due to diffraction from each emitter unless emitters are coupled by lenses or emit diffraction-free highly directional rays.

The required relay optics and lenses are large and cannot be miniaturized due to various optical design constraints.

Despite great advancements in micro-technologies, true breakthroughs in especially 3D wearable displays for mobile devices and Augmented Reality (AR) are missing due to two fundamental problems: (i) the relay lenses from the image source to the eye must remain large to provide a large field-of-view and 3D perception and (ii) viewing comfort is limited due to missing depth cues.

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